Hand truck



March 17. 1925 H. G. THOMSON HAND TRUCK Filed, Oct. 24

alllllllllllll llllllllllllllk Patented Mar. 17, 1925.

5 UNITED STA HERBERT G. THOMSON, onivnw' Yonn'nx.

HAND TRuoK.

Application filed October 24, 1924. Serial No. 745,554.

To 'aZZ whom it may concern:

it known that l, HERBERT THO SON, a citizen of thellnited States, and

resident of the city of New York. borough of li lanha-ttan,v in thecounty of New York and State of New York, have {invented certain new anduseful Improvements in Hand Trucks, of which the following is aspecification. This invention relates to hand trucks, its object beingto provide a metal truck of relatively light weight possessing themerits of cheapness, strengthand durability. 2

The invention, generally stated, comprehends a truck having side framemembers composed of U-bars of rolled or pressed steel; a nose memberhaving integral supporting limbs fitted into the channels of the bars; afixed axle; wheels journaled there on. and novel supporting brackets forthe axle, each bracket comprising a single piece of metal struck up topresent a substantial body portion having an upper angular flange memberwhich underlies the said bars and the limbs of the nose member and isbolted thereto, and having a lower recess into which the adjacent end ofthe axle extends, said recess being formed by a struckout portion of thebody and affording an angular supporting and steadying member to whichthe axle is securely bolted, together with various details ofconstruction,

all of which will be hereinafter described and claimed.

In the drawings Figure 1 is a plan of a hand truck embodying myinvention.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the truck.

3 is a partial transverse section through one side of the truck, as onthe line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

4 is a similar section through one of the handles, on the line 4-4 ofFig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of one of the sheet metal axle-brackets.

Referring to the drawings, 6 designates longitudinal frame meniberscomposed of U-bars of rolled or pressed steel having downwardlycurvedupper portions bent to circular cross section to constituteintegral handles 7. These bars are connected at intervals by means oftransverse supporting straps 8 which are bolted at their ends to therespective bars to afford therewith a substantial truck frame. Into theopen lower portions of the frame bars 6 extend the angular legs 9 of anose member 10, which legs are of such form in cross-section as to fitsnugly into the lower portions of the bars, distance. pieces, as 11,being interposedbetween the legs and the tops of the bars.

Depending brackets 12 of novel construe tion are arranged to support,firmly and rigidly, the ends of the axle 13 on which the wheels 14- arejournaled. Each bracket comprises a body portion of generallytriangiiilar shape having along its upper edge an inturned horizontalflange 15 of substan+ tial length and width and having in. its

lower or apex portion a polygonal recess 16 from the upper edge of whichprojects an inturned horizontal tongue 17, the whole being struck upfrom a single piece of sheet steel. Each axle bracket is so arrangedthat its flange 15 underlies and bears firmly against the adjacent framebar'and the associated leg 9 of the nose member, and'the several partsjustmentioned are secured together by bolts 18, or the like, passingtherethrough and through the confined distance pieces 11. i

As herein illustrated the recesses 16 are shaped correspondinglywith'the cross section of the main body of theaxle 13 so as to receiveand support the axle while .the

tongues 17 overhang and bear squarely upon the top of the latter. Thesetongues 17 are secured to the axle, as bybolts'19,

thus insuring a rigid and stable connection I between the axle and thebrackets. I

By the construction above described it will be seen that the dependingaxle brackets are effectually reinforced and strengthened by theirangularly bent upper flanges that such flanges afford substantialbearing surfaces for the brackets against the lower edges of the framebars and'also provide, in COHJUIICUOD w th the distance pieces andbolts, simple and effective clamping and j" a steadying members for theassociated parts. Moreover, the recesses 16 of the brackets, plus theangular tongues, ensure firm and ness.

I claim 1. A truckcomprising spaced-apart U- shaped frame bars of-rolledor pressed steel,

a nose member having legs fitted into the channels of the bars, an axle,wheels j0urnaled thereon, axle brackets each comprising a single pieceof stamped metal having a body portion provided with a lower recess, anupper inturned supporting and clamping flange which underlies and bearsagainst the adjacent frame bar and the associated leg of the nosemember, and a tongue projecting laterally from the top of the recess,said recess snugly receiving, and said tongue overhanging, the axle,means securing the flanges to the adjacent frame bars and legs, andmeans securing the axle to the overhanging tongues.

2. A truck comprising spaced-apart U-shaped from bars of rolled orpressed steel, a nose member having legs fitted into the channels of thebars, distance pieces between the said legs and the tops of therespective bars, an axle, wheels journaled thereon, axle brackets eachcomprising a single piece of stamped metal having a body portionprovided with a polygonal recess, an upper inturned supporting andclamping flange which underlies the adjacent frame bar and theassociated leg of the nose member, and a tongue projecting laterallyfrom the top of the recess, said recess snugly receiving, and saidtongue overhanging, the axle, bolts securing together the adjacentflanges, frame bars and distance pieces, and bolts securing the axle tothe overhanging tongues.

3. The herein described axle bracket for wheeled hand trucks, comprisinga single piece of stamped metal shaped to provide a body portion havinga lower recess, an upper angular supporting portion, and a tongueprojecting-laterally from the top of the re cess, said recess beingadapted to receive the axle of the truck and said tongue being adaptedto overhang and be securedto the axle.

Signed at New York, in the county and State 01 New York, this 22nd dayof Octoher A. D. 1924. a

HERBERT G. THOMSON.

